Odd issue, at least for me, car seemed to turn over a little slower this morning, but started fine, drove my usual hour to work, no issues, headlights everything fine.. got out of work and when I tried to start it dragged like the battery was dead... Pulled out voltage meter, and 13.9 volts on old battery... then only the glow plugs would light and it would not turn over at all...

Ran over to auto parts, bought a new battery and installed it, same.

It's like the starter failed, but I have never seen one just give out like this without any real warning. Anyways, had to finally leave the car and will have it towed home tomorrow and see if swapping out the starter is the issue.

It sure sounds like a dead spot on your starter, did you try tapping it? With 13.9 volts you're almost overcharging the battery.

__________________
Democracy dies in darkness, you have to kick at the darkness till it bleeds daylight

Be sure your wires and connections are good and clean....

__________________
1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/10414-help-i-need-check-stretch.html

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

and tight.

__________________
Jim

Check the wire connectors on the battery posts. I had a problem with the starter dragging like the battery was down. Turned out that one of the connectors on a battery post was actually cracked. Sometimes it touched together; sometimes it did not. Replaced and fixed the problem.

I once had a broken washer on a starter terminal cause it to turn slowly. Probably good idea to clean and check and re-assemble all the major connections to the battery and starter.

I would suspect the ground.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

there is indeed a thick copper uninsulated wire from the engine to the frame of the car. CHeck that
But isn't there a possibility of the neutral sensing switch not contacting?
Can you hear the solenoid pull in when you hit "start"? if not then either the ground is missing or the neut switch is the culprit.
A quick check is to ground the solenoid lead on the starter directly. I had to do that on a journey across three states, got downright tired of it until I got back.
Using a voltmeter or even a small bulb with long leads on it is a useful thing to have in troubleshooting this kind of problem.
And starters do fail in this way after the brushes wear down.

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

Your description perfectly fits a serious ground failure.

The most common is the massive cable from body to bell housing becomes loose or corroded.

Good luck.
.

__________________
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1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

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A fairly easy test for starter vs ground issues is turn on the headlights first. If the starter causes the lights to dim, the problem isn't ground, it's either the battery itself, or the starter. If the lights don't dim, then engine ground strap or solenoid problems are likely.

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Check the speedo cable. If it is warm, then the ground is gone. You coulda made it home with a pull start.

__________________
CC: NSA

All things are burning, know this and be released.

82 Benz 240 D, Kuan Yin
12 Ford Escape 4wd

You're four times

It's hard to

more likely to

concentrate on

have an accident

two things

when you're on

at the same time.

a cell phone.

www.kiva.org It's not like there's anything wrong with feeling good, is there?

Jumper cable can be a great temporary ground replacement.

__________________
1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

Although I have never attempted it, according to my 1984 300TD owner's manual; it is possible to jump start an automatic transmission MBZ, by selecting the "S" position after the car is rolling a bit.

Basics first. Check your battery cable terminal clamps in and out; they can sometimes corrode or make poor contact. Then, if that is not the culprit, proceed to follow the cable all the way to the starter (be careful) and inspect it for corrosion or poor contact.

__________________
[GONE] - 1995 Mercedes E300 Diesel - 130k miles - Smoke Silver (702) over Mushroom leather (265) - Bladder blasting, coast-to-coast work machine.

How does the ground being ' gone ' make he speedo cable warm ?

Anyone who has done any pull starting by another car knows how tricky and dangerous .. for the cars involved .... that can be.... where to attach... how do you communicate what is needed when.....what about other traffic on the road .... etc.... easy to bend sheet metal... or other things...when finding and fixing the problem is needed for the next start anyway....

__________________
1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html